The construction of a Sh300 million multi-storey market at Garissa's Suuq Mugdi will kick off in the coming months.
The project is aimed at addressing persistent safety concerns and overcrowding in one of the town’s busiest commercial areas.
The budget for the market has been approved and the contract awarded, according to the constituency’s MP, Rtd Maj. Dekow Barrow, who visited the site to engage traders.
Suuq Mugdi has long been associated with congestion and repeated fire incidents, leaving traders vulnerable to losses and disruption.
An inferno, which broke out at the market in 2025, destroyed stalls and goods worth millions of shillings. It left many traders stranded and forced to operate in the open under harsh weather conditions.
Garissa Township Constituency legislator Rtd Maj. Dekow Barrow said the new facility will provide a more orderly and resilient trading environment, while restoring confidence among small business owners.
The development coincides with the planned opening of Garissa’s Municipal Market, which is expected to accommodate hundreds of traders.
Together, the projects target to boost push to formalise market infrastructure and reduce reliance on informal, high-risk trading spaces.
Such investments have been welcomed by traders, though past market projects in the region have raised questions around stall allocation, affordability, and long-term maintenance.
Rtd Maj. Dekow Barrow was accompanied by the area MCA and minority leader, Hussein Mohamed Dagane, and nominated MCAs Abdikadir Dubat and Aden Durow.
Suleiman Hussein, a trader, said if delivered as promised, the markets could reshape Garissa’s commercial landscape.
Whether they translate into lasting security for traders will depend on how they are managed once construction begins.
